Dozier Elementary, Elton; Vermilion Parish History, Louisiana Submitted by Kathy LaCombe-Tell Source; in part: www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier Submitted September 2004 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Robert Dozier and his wife Frances, native Kentuckians, moved to Avery Island, Louisiana. Shortly afterwards, the couple settled in Erath, with their ten children, Adeline, Arthur, Frank, Henry., Libby, Lizzie, Mary, Pinkie, Sally and Willie. Robert Dozier was employed at a local lumberyard, while his wife worked as a mid-wife in the area. Together, they decided to provide their children with the advantages of an education. Around 1911, the Dozier's hired an educator to enter their home and teach the African American children in the area. Mrs. Gracie Milton Neal of Abbeville was the teacher selected by the Dozier Family. She offered these children the advantages of a new learning environment. During this time, Mrs. Neal lived in the Dozier home. To help accommodate the students, each morning Mrs. Dozier would lean the bed against the wall. Instantly transferring the bedroom into a school room. This routine continued until 1916, when it was decided that the Beard Congregation Christian Church would serve the dual purpose of a school and a church. Mrs. Alberta Price of New Orleans was the first teacher. Over the next twenty five years, Mrs. Gracie Neal of Abbeville, Harold Gilbert of New Iberia and Lizzie Lee Brown (Robert Dozier's granddaughter), of Erath, respectively taught in the church. Lizzie Lee Brown remained at R.F. Dozier Elementary School until her death in 1959. Student enrollment steadily increased and by 1941, the church could no longer accommodate the classes. .At this time, concerned parents approached the Vermilion Parish School Board for assistance. Land was purchased for the school site in August, 1941. The School Board purchased 1.01 acres of land from Phillip Richard for $1,000. Construction of the small building was estimated at $890. Doors to the new two room wooden school opened in 1942, Due to limited space, the building could only house grades one through six, To continue their education, the older children would then attend school either in Abbeville or New Iberia. Reverend B, T. Whitt of Lake Charles became the first Principal in 1942 and remained in that capacity until the school closed it's doors in 1968. Earning seventy five dollars a month, this devoted educator was determined to offer his students the benefits of a good education. Additional land purchases were made in May and November of 1948. The widow and heirs of Phillip Richard. for the consideration of $7,460, granted to the Vermilion Parish School Board a total of 4.69 acres of land. By the early 1950's, it was apparent that additional space was needed for the growing student body, Construction costs of a new brick school for grades one through eight was estimated at $236,837; with the assistance of the Vermilion Parish School Board, allocated funds were made available for the building of the new structure. Bearing the proud name, "R. F. Dozier Elementary", this new school opened in 1954, in honor of Robert and Frances Dozier. The original brick structure still exists as part of the present school. For the next fourteen years, Reverend Whitt and his dedicated faculty were committed to providing their students with the best possible education, The R. F. Dozier Elementary School closed its doors in May, 1968 to integrate with Erath High School, which accommodated grades one through twelve. The controversial issue of school desegregation had entered an era, where it became possible for all students to embark on an equal education. During the 1968-69 school year, R. F. Dozier Elementary remained closed. The: following year, this small school progressed through a new phase. Doors opened for children in the Follow Through Program, Ms. Cecile Dubois, Ms, Jeanette Pillette, Ms. Mary 10 Crutchfield, Ms. Linda Chaumont and Ms. Mae Belle Wilturner Boudreaux were teachers in this program, educating students in grades one, two and three. Classes were limited to eighteen students, with one class per grade level. Language experiences, field trips and hands on activities \\'ere some of the teaching methods promoted by this new federally funded program, decisions were made in 1972, which affected. the educational paths of many children in the community. Additional classrooms were built and Dozier Elementary was established as the primary, school for Erath children in first, second and third grade. Erath High School would now accommodate grades four through twelve. Johnnie Suire, math teacher at Erath High School, was named the new Principal. Kindergarten classes began two years later in the CCD Catholic Religion Buildings. During that year, four additional classrooms were constructed for the incoming Kindergarten students. Johnnie Suire remained at this primary school until his retirement in 1980. Dozier Elementary had taken many positive steps under the leadership of this long time educator. Sherry Trahan, an elementary teacher at Erath High, ascended to the principalship in the fall of 1980. School fund raising projects such as "The Womanless Wedding" and "The Haunted House” were initiated under the supervision of Ms. Trahan. By 1981, inadequate classroom space began posing problems as student enrollment continued to increase. Construction began on six additional classrooms in 1981. By the Spring of 1982, students were transferred from the CCD Religion Buildings into the newly built classrooms. In October 1984, heavy rains flooded the school grounds. Twelve inches of rain fell over a period of several hours in the Erath area. Dozier Elementary, one of the hardest hit schools in the parish, had damages estimated at $157.000. In 1985, the Vermilion Parish School Board purchased less than an acre of land (.608) from Abel Hebert's heirs for $21,000. Principal Sherry Trahan retired in January, 1986. Erath High School's Assistant Principal, Teddy Broussard, was appointed to serve as acting principal during the spring semester. In August 1986, he returned as Dozier Elementary's new principal. He promoted such activities as "Breakfast of Champions", "Friday Night Prime Time", The Annual "Reading Challenge", "Mail Call", and the "The Principal's Refrigerator Door ." By reading to the students on a regular basis, Mr. Broussard helped develop a positive attitude toward the reading program, while learning about his students. School activities such as field trips, pen pal programs, storybook character dress up day, special birthday recognition, school wide reading buddies, and daily silent sustained reading periods all help create a positive learning environment at this primary school. In 1997, a cafeteria large enough to house the student body was finally built on the Dozier Elementary campus. The first proposal had been made by Mr. Johnnie Suire in 1972. The dedication ceremony for the cafeteria took place on November 6, 1997, with Father Wayne Duet, Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church blessing it. The ribbon cutting event took place with former principal Johnnie Suire as a guest. Other guests included Vermilion Parish Nutrition Supervisor, Debbie Kite; Project Architect, Gene Sellers Jr. Assistant Superintendent, Cliff Alleman, Superintendent, Dan Dartez. School Board Members, Caroll “Bubba" Leblanc and Jay Comeaux. School Cafeteria Manager Gerri Dubois cut the ribbon. The students participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony were: Jodie Adams, Caleb Thibodeaux, Kailey Domingues, Seth Bourque, Eddie Hulin and Ashlie Romero. Following the Erath Middle School fire in 2000, fourth grade students transferred officially to the Dozier Elementary campus. In addition to that, Pre K began in 2002. Now the primary school in Erath houses over 700 Pre-K through fourth grade students. In 2001, Teddy Broussard accepted a job at the State Board of Education and Ralph Thibodeaux is serving as the school’s new principal. In January of 2002, the first Assistant Principal Mrs. Elizabeth Gremillion was named. Gremillion was selected as Dozier's newest leader in the fall of 2003. At that time, Mrs. Dawn Amy stepped in as the second Assistant Principal.